Bharatpur - the Eastern
Gateway to Rajasthan, was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733 AD,
it was once an impregnable well fortified city, carved out of the region
formerly known as Mewat. The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and Dholpur has played
an important part in the history of Rajasthan.

Bharatpur,
an impregnable fortified city is today famous for the nearby Keoladeo Ghana
Bird Sanctuary. Once the shooting preserve of royalty, it is perhaps the
most spectacular water-bird sanctuary in India.

Deeg was the summer
residence of the royals. It's beautiful buildings are set around a formal
garden, on the edge of a large lake. In mid monsoon, there is a large fair,
during which time the large network of fountains in the gardens and palaces
are opened up for the public pleasure.

» Major
Attractions of Bharatpur

Keoladeo
National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) : The Keoladeo Ghana
National Park or-as many people prefer to call it-the Bharatpur Bird
Sanctuary lies between two of India's most historic cities, Agra and Jaipur.
This north Indian sanctuary is situated in the country's northwestern state
of Rajasthan, about 190 km from the national capital of Delhi. The name
'Keoladeo' is derived from the name of an ancient Hindu temple devoted to
Lord Shiva in the sanctuary's central zone while the Hindi term 'Ghana'
implies dense, thick areas of forest cover.

Government
Museum : Located in the centre of the famous Lohagarh Fort, the
Bharatpur Museum houses a rich collection of archaeological wealth of the
nearby areas as well as from the old Bharatpur State. The huge palatial
building Kachahari Kalan, once the administrative block of the rulers of
Bharatpur state, was converted into a museum in 1944 AD. Later on, the Kamra
Khas (personal chamber) building on the first floor was added to the museum.

Lohargarh Fort : The Fort was designed and
constructed by Maharaja Suraj Mal in the 18th century to withstand the
attacks of the British powers at that time. The fort encloses three palaces
within its precincts - Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas. It is also
known as the Iron Fort, and occupies an entire small artificial island. The
main entrance to the Fort is through the Astadhatu gate.

Jawahar Burg and Fateh Burg : These monuments inside the
fort were built by Surajmal to commemorate the victory over Mughals and
British. The monuments reflecting in the glory of past are worth visiting.

The
Palace : It is a fine blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture, built in
various phases by different Maharajas. The magnificent apartments are richly
decorated with patterened floor tiles with exquisite intricate designs. The
museum occupies the main central wing depicting sollections dating back to
2nd century, which relflect the art and skill of the region.

» Places to
Stay in Bharatpur

There are plenty of accommodation options available from deluxe
heritage hotels to budget accommodation. There are forest rest houses and
PWD Dak bungalows also available.

The temperature ranges from 38°C to a maximum of 45°C
during the summer which spreads from from April to June. In the winters,
after Christmas, temperature start falling below 10°C. The place can be
visited all round the year.

» How to Get
there

Air : Agra which is 56 kms away from
Bharatpur and is the nearest airport while the International Airport lies at
Delhi.

Rail : Regular trains connect
Bharatpur with several cities on the Delhi-Mumbai trunk route, as well as to
Jaipur and Agra.

Road : A good network of bus
services links Bharatpur with several cities within and outside the state of
Rajasthan.